Plant
Bracken
Ferns & Moss
The big, feathery fern that carpets heaths and hillsides — tough, poisonous to grazers, and spreading underground right across the countryside.
💡 Fun Facts
- Bracken doesn't grow from flowers or seeds — it scatters millions of tiny, dust-like spores from the underside of its big feathery fronds.
- Almost nothing eats it: its leaves are full of natural poisons, so grazing animals leave it well alone.
- Hidden underground, its tough creeping stems can spread for years — so a single bracken plant may carpet a whole hillside.
📅 Through the Year
- Leaf-out:May
- Leaf fall:October to November